For more than 35 years, the growth of the hospice movement in the U.S. has shaped new ways of thinking about death, dying and bereavement. It has also provided an alternative for care of patients who are in the final stages of a terminal illness like malignant mesothelioma.

Typically, when a person is diagnosed with a serious illness, the patient and family work with their doctors to explore all options to address the problem. In the case of mesothelioma, as with most cancers, surgical and medical treatments offer the best hope for a cure when the disease is diagnosed in its early stages. Unfortunately, several decades can pass from the time of asbestos exposure to a diagnosis of mesothelioma, and a delay in diagnosis can severely limit a patient's chances for recovery.

When all treatment options have been exhausted and there is no hope for a cure, a hospice program can provide a patient with something called palliative care. The word palliative is derived from the Latin word palliare, which means "to cloak". This type of care focuses on controlling the symptoms of mesothelioma combined with social, emotional and spiritual support.

Although it is sometimes used alongside medical treatment, the main goal of palliative care is to improve the patient's well-being by easing pain and resolving psychological problems. Support is also provided for partners and family members as they struggle to cope with their loved one's illness.

What is Hospice?

Contrary to a common belief, hospice is not a place. Although a patient may receive hospice care in a hospital, nursing home or dedicated hospice facility, most patients--about 90%--prefer to remain at home.

Hospice is, rather, a unique philosophy of care that focuses on quality of life rather than length of life. Professional hospice staff and volunteers are available around the clock to ease the patient's transition through the final stages of life. With hospice care, patients are allowed to remain in their homes and live their final days in comfort and in the company of their loved ones. Types of Hospice Services.

To learn more about coping with the physical and emotional symptoms of mesothelioma, please visit our Mesothelioma Support Center.